Seasoned Affordable Housing Partnership Continues to Preserve and Expand Mixed-Income Living Through Public-Private Collaboration.
Known for its Peachtree Street-facing “Atlanta’s Population Now” sign, famously installed by a young Ted Turner in 1965, The Lofts at Twenty25, formerly The Darlington, has officially changed hands. Atlantica Properties, led by Darion Dunn and Trent Dunn, in partnership with EQ Housing Advisors, Inc. (EQHA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit chaired by Marc Pollack, has purchased the 623-unit apartment building in Buckhead.
Originally developed in 1951, The Darlington was Atlanta’s first post-World War II high-rise built for the city’s working class. The property was fully renovated in 2022 to operate as a luxury apartment community. Under new ownership, Atlantica and EQHA will reserve 30% of the apartments for workforce housing through an initiative that blends public support, private-market expertise and nonprofit stewardship. This acquisition represents one of Atlanta’s largest mixed-income public-private initiatives to date.
The partners remain committed to addressing Atlanta’s urgent need for affordable and supportive housing. Together, they bring years of experience and expertise to long-term preservation investments, including the 214-unit 12th & James Apartments, which they purchased earlier this year.
“We’re proud to help preserve mixed-income housing in a high-opportunity area,” said Darion Dunn of Atlantica Properties, whose mission-aligned real estate investment firm works collaboratively with EQHA, the City of Atlanta, and other impact-oriented organizations.
Dunn and Pollack aim to preserve The Lofts at Twenty25 as a long-term mixed-income housing community in partnership with the recently formed Atlanta Urban Development (AUD). Through a ground lease with AUD, a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta Housing, the property will remain affordable for at least 25 years for residents earning between 50% and 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI).
Capital was provided by a consortium of social impact investors and institutions, including Truist Community Capital and the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta.
“This financing structure ensures stability and impact through an aligned capital stack and long-term ownership,” said Pollack.
The partners’ shared mission is to protect and expand housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income residents by acquiring at-risk properties and ensuring they remain accessible, inclusive, and community-serving for decades to come.
